US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that enforces a complete travel restriction on citizens from 12 countries.

In addition, nationals from seven more countries will face limited travel restrictions to the United States.

The affected 12 countries are Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Yemen, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Equatorial Guinea.

Stricter limitations will also apply to individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The executive order was finalized on Wednesday night.

Trump justified the decision by pointing to national security concerns and referenced an incident that occurred in Colorado on Sunday.

The order further indicates that the secretary of state holds the authority to provide exceptions on a “case-by-case” basis.

Trump said, “I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people.”

He added, “We will not let what happened in Europe happen to America.”

He explained, “Very simply, we cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States.”

He stated, “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.”

Several of the countries listed are currently experiencing armed conflicts.

Others made the list because, according to Trump, their governments fail to provide access to criminal background information.

The executive order also cites challenges faced by US authorities in repatriating citizens of these countries as another reason for their inclusion.

Scheduled to take effect on June 9, the new travel restrictions resemble a similar directive issued by Trump in 2017 during his first term, which barred individuals from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States.

Trump also signed another executive order that halts the entry of foreign nationals who intend to study or join programs at Harvard.

This declaration temporarily prevents non-immigrants aiming to attend the Ivy League institution from entering the US.

The Trump administration has consistently criticized Harvard, accusing the university of “radicalism,” “antisemitism” and a “persistence with” diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes.

Bill Gates, who chairs the Gates Foundation, has said that Nigeria’s government expenditure on healthcare is “too small” to effectively tackle the country’s deep-rooted health issues.

During a media roundtable held on Wednesday, Gates emphasized that unless there is a significant increase in healthcare funding, the country will continue to face high rates of maternal and child mortality.

The tech billionaire noted that he had spoken directly with President Bola Tinubu regarding the importance of allocating more resources to Nigeria’s healthcare system.

He acknowledged the government’s financial constraints and competing priorities but insisted that increasing health-related spending is vital.

“Well, the amount of money Nigeria spends on health care is very, very small,” he said.

“I don’t know why you would have expected that number (referring to maternal mortality) to go down.

“If a mother delivers at home, there are certain complications that you can’t solve. So what countries like India do is they drive delivery into centres where they can give C-sections. But that takes money.”

Earlier in February, Nigeria’s National Assembly boosted the health budget by N300 billion as part of the 2025 fiscal plan.

A total of N2.48 trillion was earmarked for the health sector, making up 5.18 percent of the entire national budget.

US FUNDING CUTS

When asked if his foundation would step in to fill the funding gap left by the United States, Gates responded that no organization is capable of equaling the US government’s global health contributions.

He said he is “upset” about the US government’s decision to scale back its support for global health initiatives.

“The problem with the Gates Foundation is we don’t have some special bucket of money,” he said.

“We spend more every year, and all my money will be spent. And so no matter what the other people do, it’s the same amount of money.

“If they increase, I’ll still spend my money. If they disappear, I’ll still spend my money. So my money is not extra money.

“There’s a few things where they left medicines in the warehouse or they cut off a medical trial in the middle where we take our money and we shift it to help out.

“There’s nobody who can match that US government money. And the European money is all coming down. We have like a 40% decrease from Germany and the UK.

“In their case, it’s less ideological and more to do with just getting money for Ukraine or an aging society.

“I’m very upset about it. We’ll have more HIV deaths, malaria deaths, and maternal deaths. There’s just no denying that that money was being well spent. And there’s no alternate source that matches up to what was available.”

In May, Gates stated that he plans to donate almost all his fortune within the next 20 years.

He recently announced that the majority of the $200 billion he intends to give way over the next two decades will go to Africa.

As the world marks World Environment Day on June 5, themed “Ending Plastic Pollution,” cities around the globe are taking stock of their environmental footprints. For Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic nerve centre and one of Africa’s largest megacities, the issue of plastic waste isn’t just an environmental concern—it’s a fight for survival. Few understand this urgency better than the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, whose bold and sometimes controversial reforms are reshaping how Lagos manages its waste.

The statistics are grim but instructive. Lagos generates over 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, with plastic accounting for a significant portion. A joint audit by the Lagos State Government, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and UN-Habitat in 2023 found that Lagos residents leak about 34 kilograms of plastic into water systems per person annually. That’s roughly equivalent to every Lagosian discarding 10 plastic water bottles into the environment every single day. The audit provided a data-backed wake-up call—one that Mr. Wahab and the Lagos State Government has consistently emphasized.

“The data convinced us to stand up with our political will,” Mr. Wahab has said, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to implementing policy based on facts rather than political convenience.

From Political Will to Policy Action

Since assuming office, Mr. Wahab has done more than sound alarms; he has turned statistics into state action. Perhaps the most symbolic of these steps was the 2024 ban on styrofoam (polystyrene foam), a non-biodegradable material that has choked gutters, polluted canals, and blighted cityscapes for years. This was not a token move. It was the first line in a broader war on single-use plastics (SUPs), with full enforcement of a wider ban slated to begin on July 1, 2025.

This upcoming phase-out will include plastic straws, cutlery, certain types of nylon bags, and polystyrene cups, with other plastics like PET bottles and water sachets being regulated under an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model. It is a sophisticated mix of prohibition, regulation, and corporate accountability, crafted not in haste, but through 18 months of consultations with industry players, including the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) and Tetra Pak West Africa. This consultative approach reinforces a vital point: that meaningful environmental change demands partnership, not posturing.

But regulation is only half the equation. Recognizing the importance of infrastructure, Wahab brokered a strategic partnership with the Jospong Group’s ZoomLion Nigeria to overhaul the state’s waste logistics. This includes building Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) to reduce pressure on overused landfills like Olusosun and Solous III, and constructing Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in Ikorodu and Badagry to sort and recycle plastics. According to the ministry, the initiative is expected to create over 5,000 jobs in recycling and logistics.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has also scaled up under his watch. The agency has increased the number of waste evacuation trucks, cleared black spots, and enhanced the performance of Private Sector Participants (PSPs). In collaboration with the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade, LAWMA has also ramped up enforcement efforts, prosecuting illegal dumping, open burning, and other environmental violations.

People First: Changing Behaviour, Building Consensus

Recognizing that behavior change is critical, Wahab has led intensive public advocacy campaigns using traditional media, digital platforms, and social influencers. Campaigns fronted by skit makers like Taooma have helped reach younger audiences, while town hall meetings and community outreaches target grassroots buy-in.

Environmental enforcement has also been strengthened. Between January and May 2025, over 6,700 arrests were made for environmental offences, including highway crossing, open defecation, and illegal trading on pedestrian bridges. While critics argue some enforcement tactics are harsh, the commissioner has maintained that without compliance, sustainability remains elusive.

Beyond waste, Wahab’s ministry has linked plastic pollution to wider climate and sanitation concerns. Lagos has cleared over 600 kilometres of drainage channels to reduce flood risks exacerbated by plastic waste. The state has also built 1,710 public toilets, with 250 more under construction via Public-Private Partnerships. Surveillance of private wastewater facilities has also been stepped up, through the Lagos Wastewater Management Office (LASWMO).

Innovative flood-control efforts, such as the Ilubirin pumping station and new river gauging systems, demonstrate Wahab’s systemic approach; integrating solid waste management, sanitation, and urban resilience.

On the urban renewal front, the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) has planted over 54,000 trees, with plans to plant 50,000 more by 2026. The agency is also converting underutilized spaces into public green parks to improve both air quality and quality of life.

These efforts have not gone unnoticed. UNEP and other international bodies have highlighted Lagos as a case study in evidence-based environmental reform. The city’s participation in the Global Plastics Hub ensures it remains aligned with best practices and global innovations in plastic pollution control.

Of course, challenges remain. Illegal trading, low compliance from some manufacturers, and entrenched attitudes among a segment of the population continue to test the administration’s resolve. Still, under Wahab’s stewardship, Lagos is proving that environmental transformation is possible when backed by political will, strategic planning, and community engagement.

As the global spotlight shines on plastic pollution this June 5, Lagos through the decisive leadership of Governor Sanwo-olu and the watchdoging of Tokunbo Wahab is offering Africa’s megacities a practical blueprint for change. The road ahead is long, but with sustained commitment, the state is setting a standard that others would do well to follow.